Two bits that caught my eye were these "Chip and Trace PRO is powered by M-Track Thatcham TQA 116/117 Marine Security Accreditation, the first and only Marine Security Tracking System to achieve this status" and also "Chip and Trace is a global Boat Security Identification and Tracking System using combined GPS, GSM and RF together with a unique RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) chip that is registered on a secure database of stolen boats".

Thatcham is, according to their own website, the "motor insurance repair research centre". I'm not suggesting there is no value in that - but it would be more impressive if it were boat related, or better still an "insurance policy" where if your boat is not recovered they compensate you (I used to have bike lock like that).

"Global..." is probably a bit misleading as you rightly identify there is a lot of the UK waters not in mobile reception never mind the world! I doubt mobile and gps reception is great inside a container on its way abroad either. So the key is getting alerted that it has moved NOW and therefore having some potential to act before the tracker is disabled, the boat is out of range etc.

They also sell the RFID tagging system on its own for about a fiver. That is really only useful if the police or a potential buyer thinks a boat/engine might be stolen and scans it or if you are trying to prove the engine that they've ground the serial no's off is yours. Its not "proactive" in that you need to be within a few feet of the device to detect the RFID tag (certainly within sight).

I think the loss of GSM signal was mentioned in a previous thread - and IIRC the cheap units that were being discussed will report back their last known position - which may provide some sort of starting point.

I'm not saying the TK102 is better - I'm just intrigued as to why you were convinced the other system was.

Quote:

The service charge is not even the price of a pint of Guinness a week or a quarter bottle of Whisky.

your drinking in the wrong pubs! If you have that sort of money to spend on "monitoring" then thats great.

I suspect that the other system may be more valuable if you were cruising around the world (or at least abroad a lot) as no doubt the cheap PAYG sims become a headache (and expensive then).

I'm not sure if the cheap ones offer internet access to check the data?

Thatcham is, according to their own website, the "motor insurance repair research centre". I'm not suggesting there is no value in that - but it would be more impressive if it were boat related, or better still an "insurance policy" where if your boat is not recovered they compensate you (I used to have bike lock like that).

I also had that bike lock for my ZZR1100. Wish I had never sold it.

"Global..." is probably a bit misleading as you rightly identify there is a lot of the UK waters not in mobile reception never mind the world! I doubt mobile and gps reception is great inside a container on its way abroad either. So the key is getting alerted that it has moved NOW and therefore having some potential to act before the tracker is disabled, the boat is out of range etc.

Yes I agree.

They also sell the RFID tagging system on its own for about a fiver. That is really only useful if the police or a potential buyer thinks a boat/engine might be stolen and scans it or if you are trying to prove the engine that they've ground the serial no's off is yours. Its not "proactive" in that you need to be within a few feet of the device to detect the RFID tag (certainly within sight).

A bit like the microchip in my cat.

I think the loss of GSM signal was mentioned in a previous thread - and IIRC the cheap units that were being discussed will report back their last known position - which may provide some sort of starting point.

I'm not saying the TK102 is better - I'm just intrigued as to why you were convinced the other system was.

I did not say I was convinced Polwart. I just mentioned a system that had not popped up in the forum before. It's good to debate.

your drinking in the wrong pubs! If you have that sort of money to spend on "monitoring" then thats great.

I wish I was in the pub now.

I suspect that the other system may be more valuable if you were cruising around the world (or at least abroad a lot) as no doubt the cheap PAYG sims become a headache (and expensive then).

I am almost permanently abroad so for my needs that system would be best.

I'm not sure if the cheap ones offer internet access to check the data?

Is a Pac22 that attractive from a "theft" point of view?

I dont think the words attractive and Pac22 go together do they? I have no intention of fitting one to the Pac22. The intention is to fit it to my main vessel.

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